A police officer responsible for safety on the roads has said that drivers spotted travelling over 70mph on a smart motorway WILL be fined.

It comes after it was revealed the new speed cameras on the smart motorway section of the M1 across the Derbyshire stretch are permanently switched on – even during those periods when there is no variable speed limit in force.

The Derbyshire force's manager of the Casualty Reduction Enforcement Support Team, Darren Roberts, revealed he was “shocked” to find the cameras between Tibshelf services and junction 29A at Duckmanton were the most profitable in the county in 2017.

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“To all the speeders out there: imagine if you had to knock on the door of a victim’s family to tell them their loved one had died because of your reckless driving” he said.

“It’s just not worth the risk. Speeding can never be justified. Why put lives on the line to arrive a few minutes early?”

The speed cameras on the M1 have caught out many drivers

The Casualty Reduction Enforcement Support Team (CREST) is working with the Derbyshire roads policing unit to crack down on Fatal 4 offences – speeding, drink or drug driving, using mobile phones behind the wheel and not wearing a seatbelt.

“Some people will always drive over the speed limit, or use their mobile phone behind the wheel, but we’re trying to educate people – especially younger drivers - of the severe consequences of their actions," Mr Roberts said.